Dowsett Family Winery, Gewürztraminer 2018, Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, WA

This dry but intensely fruity and floral Gewürztraminer from Washington’s Dowsett Family Winery has notes of lychee, ginger, rose petal, and tangerine.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: Washington

APPELLATION (AVA): Columbia Gorge

VINEYARD: Celilo Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2018

GRAPES: 100% Gewürztraminer 

SOIL: Grainy volcanic loam

PRACTICE: Organic, sustainable

VINIFICATION: Old, neutral barrel fermentation

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Pale straw

BODY: Light to medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: flowers, lychee, rose, orange blossom, ginger

FLAVOR: tangerine, rose, ginger

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.2%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve ice cold and pair the gingery notes with Indian or Moroccan cuisine.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Dowsett Family Winery

“The Dowsett Family entered into the wine business in the early 1980’s. Our winemaker, Chris Dowsett, had just turned 15-years-old when his family bought one of Oregon’s oldest vineyards on David Hill, in the Willamette Valley. The family knew little about tending to the vineyard, starting a winery, or restoring their 100-year-old home, but eventually, they expanded the vineyard from 12 to 26 acres and created an amazing winery with their partners.” (dowsettwines.com)

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Celilo Vineyards

“Celilo Vineyards was planted on Underwood Mountain in 1972, most vines are 40 years old. The deep-rooted vines bring a mineral characteristic to Celilo's wines along with higher acidity. At an elevation 800 to 1100 feet, the vineyard is considered sub-alpine, sitting on a cusp of wetter maritime weather to the west and the desert to the east. Annual rainfall of 50 inches percolates into the vineyard's grainy "buckshot" sized volcanic loam. Soils from the extinct volcano cone of Underwood Mountain can be as deep as 45 feet and retain moisture well, allowing Celilo Vineyards to survive without irrigation. Due to the soil, the flavors that come through the grapes is "minerally" and intense.” (washingtonwine.org)